CLIMATE & HISTORY: LITTLE ICE AGE

SAYDA VEGA HIST 141

CLASS #50587

WHAT, WHEN, WHERE?*The Little Ice Age occurred from the 14th to the 19th Century*Europe*30% of Earth was covered by ice*Cold period between 1550 AD and 1850 AD with three intervals*1650, 1770, and 1850

*Causes of the Little Ice Age remain unknown*Cyclical lows in solar radiation, volcanic activity and changes in the ocean circulation are possible reasons

EFFECT: HUNGER

*Medieval Era was mainly based on agriculture.*When the Ice Age arrived, everything was frozen and it was impossible to produce food.*There was little of nothing to eat.

*Family members killed each other to reserve food for others.*People ended up feeding themselves mostly with sea food.*Potatoes were seen as prohibited

EFFECT: DISEASES*Bubonic plague in 1347.*It was caused by rats and fleas carrying diseases*It was called the Black Death* Approximately 1/3 of population died

*Malnutrition caused weakened immune systems*Influenza*Malaria caused by mosquito*Illness called St. Anthony’s Fire

EFFECT: DEATH*Many people died for starvation when agriculture failed because of too low temperature.*Even family members killed each other to reserve food for others.*Children were usually taken into the forest and abandoned*From 1347 to 1352 , 25 million people died. One-third to one-half of the European population. *The bubonic plague is believed to have killed 137 million people during its 400-year reign of terror.

SOURCES

* Documentary film: Little Ice Age-Big Chill by Don Cambou

*The Little Ice Age in Europe

*Wikipedia: Little Ice Age